Tube-expander.



No. 771,889. PATENTED OCT. l1, 1904.

G. WIBDEKE.

TUBE EXPANDER.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 2, 1904.

No MODEL.

Patented October 11, 1904.

GUSTAV WIEDEKE, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

TUBE-EXPANDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,889, dated October11, 1904.

` Application iiled July 2, 1904.. Serial No. 215,064. (No model.)

To all whom, it puny concern:

Be it known that I, GUs'rAvWIEDEKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Tube-Expanders; and I dodeclare the following to' be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tube-expanders or*Vinstruments whichv are insei-ted in the ends of boiler-tubes to expandthe same in uniting said tubes to the tubesheet or head-plate of aboiler. It is well known that these tube-expanders are placed in thehands of persons who are not skilled mechanics. Therefore it isdesirable to combine in such instruments both simplicity and efficiencyof construction in order to prolong the eiiiciency of the same. In viewofthis it is the object of the present invention to provide atube-expander with the fewest possible detachable parts in order thatthe expandingrolls may be maintained at all times within the frame andprevented from falling out and in order that the unskilled mechanic orother person operating the instrument may have no difficulty indetaching the parts and replacing rolls from time to time. To these endsthe parts cooperating to support the expandingrolls consist of twomembers-to wit, aframe or holder and a retaining-cap, with integraladjunctive devices, all as hereinafter more fully described. l

Preceding adetail description of the invention reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, of Which- Figure l is a horizontal elevation ofmy improved tube-expander, showing the expanding-rod or mandrel brokenaway at both ends of theV instrument. Fig. 2 is a rear View, partly insection, to disclose the pin which interlocks the frame with theretaining-cap. Fig. 3 is a horizontal longitudinal section. Fig. lis asection on the line :1: x of Fig. 8 as indicated by the arrow. Fig. 5 isa perspective view of the retaining-cap. Fig. 6 is a rear View With theretaining-cap removed.

In a detail description of the invention similar reference charactersindicate corresponding parts.

The supporting-frame consists of a forward portion 1 and a rearwardportion l of increased diameter. In the portion of said frame having thesmallest diametereto wit, that portion indicated by l-there are threelongitudinal slots 2, through which the lengths of the expanding-rolls 3project to make contact with the interior surface of the tube. Theforward endsV of the slots 2 terminate in Walls or shoulders 2', thatserve as abutments for the adjacent or front ends of the rolls, and thusprevent said rolls from dropping or moving forwardly in said slots. rIherearward portion lof said frame is recessed or milled out, as 70 at 6,for the reception of a retaining-cap 4:, which fits therein and theouter surface of which is Hush with the extreme end of said portion l.From this capii there are projectedparallel pins 5, which correspond innumber to the rolls 3. These pins occupy openings or spaces 6', thatextend from the recess or cavity 6 and communicate with the rollopenings2. rIhe forward ends of these pins 5 lie adjacent to the rearward endsof the rolls and prevent said rolls from falling rearwardly out of theframe when the mandrel l0 is removed. The said rolls at such times arepermitted to drop inwardly toward the axis'of the frame to the extentshown in dotted lines in Fig. 4C.

14 designates a series of interior shoulders extending throughout thelengthsof the rollopenings 2 and which serve to prevent the rolls frommoving inwardly from said openings 2 or in a direction toward thelongitudinal axis of the frame when the mandrel is removed. The rolls 3are likewise prevented from moving laterally in an outward directionfrom said openings 2, owing to the outward longitudinal edges 14 of theroll-openings, which edges extend a suitable distance toward each otherto decrease the width of said openings at these points to less than thewidth of the longitudinal axes of said openings.

IOO

When the mandrel 10 is in position to expand the rolls, the rearwardends of said rolls abut not only with the retaining-pins 5, but alsowith the shoulders 16 on the forward portion of the enlarged part 1 ofthe frame.

As before stated, when said mandrel is removed the rolls are restrictedor prevented from falling out of the frame rearwardly only by the pins5. In other words, the interior longitudinal shoulders 14 of theroll-openings 2 prevent said rolls from moving inwardly to a positionthat would permit them to drop forwardly from the frame through themandrel-opening 17 in part 1 of said frame or to drop rearwardly throughthe mandrel-opening 18 in the cap 4, and the pins 5 prevent said rollsfrom passing rearwardly fromthe frame through the openings 2 and theadjoining' openings 6 in part 1' of the frame. The retaining-cap 4 ismaintained in position by a transverse pin 12, which passes throughopenings 11 in the rearward portion of the frame and the body of whichpin lies in a peripheral slot 13 in the cap 4. When the pin 12 isinserted, as in Figs. 1 and 2, the cap4 becomes firmly locked, and itsdetachment or removal from the frame is easily accomplished bywithdrawing the pin 12.

Surrounding a part of the rearward portion 1 of the frame is a guard 8,which is secured thereto by a set-screw l5,which passes through saidguard and enters a peripheral groove l in the outer surface of the frameportion l. Projecting from opposite sides of said guard are two flanges9 9, which serve as stops against the sheet or boiler-head (not shown)and support the instrument in a proper position in the tube.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In a tube-expander, a framehaving a plurality of roll-openings with expandingrolls therein, theinner longitudinal edges of said openings forming shoulders whichprevent the rolls from moving inwardly to the longitudinal axis of theframe when the mandrel is removed, the rearward portion of said framehaving a recess or cavity 6 from which extend parallel openings 6 thatcommunicate with the rearward terminals of the roll-openings, a cap 4fitting within the cavity 6 and possessing' a series of pins permanentlyfixed to said cap, said pins serving to retain the expanding-rolls fromrearward movement when the mandrel is removed from the instrument, andmeans for uniting said ycap with the rearward portion of the frame.

2. In a tube-expander, a frame having a plurality of roll-opening's withexpandingrolls mounted therein, the inner longitudinal edges of saidroll-openings Vterminating in shoulders which limit the movement of therolls toward the longitudinal axis of the frame when the mandrel isremoved, the rearward end of said frame being' enlarged and providedwith a recess 6 with openings 6 extending forwardly therefrom, theopenings 6 communicating with the rearward terminals of theroll-openings, a cap occupying said recess 6, said cap having aplurality of parallel pins 5 fixed thereto and occupying the openings6', and a detachable pin passing transversely through the rearwardportion of the frame and engaging the cap to secure the same within therear end of the frame.

3. In a tube-expander, a frame the rearward end of which is larger indiameter than the diameter of the forward portion, said forward portionhaving parallel roll-openings adapted to receive expanding-rolls, therearward portion of said frame having a recess or cavity with openingsextending therefrom and communicating with the roll-openings,a capfitting within the cavity in the rearward end of the frame, said caphaving pins fixed thereto and projected from the inner face thereof, anda pin uniting' said cap to the rearward part of the frame.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GUSTAV WIEDEKE.

Witnesses:

R. J. MCCARTY, CAROLYN M. THEOBALD.

